What People Are Saying
Working with Young Learners
"Rik's passion for guitar and music theory comes through in a way that is engaging and fun for kids. He comes to our home weekly to teach our 4th grade daughter guitar. Rik is a patient, thoughtful and caring instructor. Each lesson is tailored to the student and builds on what was taught the previous week. Rik is also very organized and always well prepared for lessons ~ Happy
"We are very happy with Rik’s guitar instruction. He connected almost immediately with both our 14 year old son and our 7 year old daughter. Rik has a very gentle teaching approach and his enthusiasm for the guitar and musical instruction in general has hooked both of them in. As a busy working parent I love the fact that he travels to our home for lessons ~ Katherine
"After only a couple of lessons with Rik my daughter was able to play and sing a complete song, and this has really boosted her confidence. Rik is patient and structured in his teaching - two valuable characteristics that will allow Ella to progress and learn the language of music and become a rockin’ guitar player! ~ Kelley
"Rik's well organized, individual and thoughtful lessons combined with his patience and love of music make learning how to play guitar fun and enjoyable for our daughter, Georgia. A kind and enthusiastic teacher, Rik keeps things moving and offers new and varied songs almost every week and therefore Georgia never finds practicing a chore. His systematic and progressive approach sets her up for success - she's loving learning and sticking with it! ~ Beanie
"Rik is fantastic. His teaching style is professional yet very warm and welcoming which has been a huge help for our 10 year old. He’s been encouraging and his enthusiasm for guitar has helped keep our daughter interested in learning. I highly recommend his guitar lessons ~ Matt
"Rik is a wonderful and talented teacher to my two daughters, ages 6 and 9. His kind and encouraging manner is appreciated by both. He has proven equally adept at appealing to their different personalities, engaging in playful banter with our more outgoing daughter, and gently drawing out our more reserved one. I'm amazed at what they both can do in a short amount of time, and they are loving it! ~ Colleen
"Rik's offering of tandem lessons for our twins is exactly what we were looking for! Rik offers proper chord and music lessons that we know will give a great foundation to the rest of their music education. The fact that they can learn together makes it even better. Rik's teaching style is gentle yet firm, and it's clear that he's proud of them as
they master their chords and notes, which
is highly motivating for kids trying something new ~ Sandra
"Eddie has been taking online guitar lessons for several years now with Rik. I am amazed at how much he has learned already. Eddie continues to learn more with every lesson. Eddie is currently progressing with soloing. Rik has a wonderful teaching style. He is very patient and keeps learning fun. His unique approach to instruction has kept Eddie engaged and looking forward to his next lesson ~ Bill
"My son started learning with Rik at age 10. He learned more after his first lesson than all his previous guitar lessons with other teachers combined. He now knows how to count along to music, how music is divided into beats, bars, down/up strums, and even correct finger placement for chords that he was up until then being taught incorrectly!
I know with Rik, Owen is going to progress faster and really understand what he’s playing. Three years on, Owen now plays live gigs! ~ Kelley
"Rik is patient, easy-going, accommodating and genuinely cares about my daughter's first musical experience. Even after the first few lessons, Liv was already beginning to feel a lot more comfortable and confident with the guitar. Lessons are always planned out and organized and set in a fun and light hearted environment ~ Lauren
"Rik is a wonderful teacher! ~ Nicolle
"After a referral from a friend, our daughter started taking at home guitar lessons with Rik this winter. We can NOT believe how much she has learned in just a few months! Each week she is progressing through new songs and learning new chords. Rik is so patient and encouraging with her. She walks away from her lessons confident and excited. Over the past two months, Rik has handled the transition to online lessons expertly. He has been so flexible and our lessons have been seamless. We can't recommend Rik highly enough! ~ Kristi
"Rik teaches both my boys (7 and 10) and couldn't be more impressed. I had no idea how he would get them to focus and learn as well as he did. I didn’t expect to see how far they would come in such a short time! His patience with their learning styles and personalities has really blown me away. He’s been able to push them to grow while also working around insecurities. Rik is kind, funny, talented and just the right amount of persistent. His classes are structured and complete. He not only goes into learning new chords, rhythms and strums but also how to read and write music. We’ve also been having fun with the introduction to new music and artists from the past and present. My boys went from not knowing how to hold a guitar to strumming and singing to boot :) My husband and I were truly proud of their accomplishments when they performed at their small recital at the end of the year and more importantly, so were they! We highly recommend Rik and can’t wait to continue their lessons with him ~ Bethany
"My teen daughter aspires to become a singer/songwriter but she lacked skills in guitar and music knowledge in general. Through her lessons with Rik, she’s grown a lot more confident in her playing, music making and performing in public. Rik is a patient and effective teacher who tailors his lessons to her progresses, with an emphasis in the fundamentals. Rik is a very kind person and knowledgeable mentor. I cannot be happier that we found Rik ~ Fei
"Rik has been a great first teacher for Connor! He looks forward to getting a new song to learn and new chords and really dives into each lesson. We often hear him practicing in his room just before we leave for the lesson to make sure he is ready. Rik has sparked a love for music and guitar in our son and we couldn’t be happier with Connor's progress so far ~ Jamie
"Rik is a gem. He is a patient and kind teacher who has helped my daughter learn to play the guitar and feel good about her ability to do so. I would highly recommend him for all ages, especially younger children ~ Nanette
"We are so pleased with the lessons that Rik provides. He is a very thoughtful, engaged teacher who is truly committed to connecting with his student. He treats my son as an individual and isn’t formulaic with his lessons. In spite of a hectic week, I know my son looks forward to his guitar time with Rik ~ Keri
"My 14 year old son Lucas was about to start electric guitar lessons with Rik when the pandemic hit the United States and we all went into quarantine. Rik offered online lessons and Lucas has been working with Rik online every week. It’s been wonderful. Rik is a patient and helpful teacher and Lucas has loved learning guitar. I often find him practicing on his own or playing for friends while FaceTiming. We are so grateful to Rik and look forward to the day when they can have lessons in person
~ Joanna
"Rik is a kind, soft spoken, patient, gifted teacher, who is organized and sets expectations that he knows our 10 year old daughter can achieve. He constantly instills confidence in her, and at the very first lesson she was playing chords and singing a song. Rik caters the music selection to each of his students, which was clear at the biannual Student Recital. Our daughter felt proud to perform in the Recital after only 4 lessons. She looks forward to her next lesson each week!
"Rik has done wonderful work with my 8-year-old daughter. She started her lessons with no guitar experience at all, and now, after only a few months, she enthusiastically plays several songs. She loves her lessons, practicing, and performing for family. We could not be happier with our experience and highly recommend Rik to anyone looking to instill a love of music in their children ~ Kaitlin
"My daughter told me for months that she wanted to learn to play guitar, but we couldn’t find a teacher near us. Then we found Rik! I was apprehensive at first, that the lessons would all be online. That fear was quickly put to rest. Rik is a dedicated and wonderful teacher. His studio setup makes it easy for my daughter to follow along, learn the chords, and play the songs. I am amazed at how much she’s learned in a few short months! We would not hesitate to recommend Rik to anyone! He is patient and kind, and uses every minute of the lesson time in an efficient way ~ Jeanene
"My son who is 10 years old was very fortunate to meet Rik in his musical journey. Before meeting Rik, my son had hit a "plateau" in his learning, played some chords in his comfort zone and didn't have a sense of direction in his journey. I'm grateful to Rik as he was so patient with him, and took the time to understand my son's guitar experience so far, and observe the gaps. He stayed focused on lessons till my son was playing consistently with a particular sequence, and then moved onto the next. My son is playing more confidently now, and his interest in music grows. Rik is an awesome teacher, has his materials available for every class that were provided to us, and also plans a musical recital once or twice a year so his students can play and learn with each other. I highly recommend Rik ~ Deepak
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"Rik is conscientious and thoughtful in his lesson planning. He took the time upfront to understand my musical background, interests, skill level and goals. Rik then tailored his approach, mixing theory and technical development with related songs to develop my abilities holistically.
Having played guitar for many years independently I was, in a few short months with Rik, able to 'connect the dots' and gain the foundation and confidence necessary to play with other people. Rik is a master of his craft, and for me his teaching has been transformational ~ Mike K
"I am a mid-life adult who has wanted to learn to play guitar all my life. I was very apprehensive and had little to no self-confidence, but all that has changed now. When I first met Rik I immediately felt very comfortable and at ease. He is warm, friendly and professional. He takes the time to explain things thoroughly and clearly. I never feel rushed or go home not knowing how to practice the material.
i feel I have come a long way since my first lesson. I know I have a lot more to learn but each lesson makes me eager to learn more and more ~ Mary
"I can honestly say that I am having a blast at every lesson. I wanted to learn more about guitar theory, soloing and to build my confidence to play in public and with friends. After a few minutes discussing my goals and expectations with Rik he told me he had an entire plan for people looking to re-start a passion and have fun along the way. His teaching style and patience is perfect for any level guitar player and his personality is always positive. I am very happy I took the time and had the courage to engage with him ~ Rich
"Rik is awesome, and is more than just talented. I’ve tried lessons in the past, but nobody has been able to keep my goals in mind while connecting the dots. He’s open, he thinks through methods and he’s able to convey that - even within a Skype session! It’s about as simple as this: I’m getting an Ivy League education in the blues, top to bottom. And, It’s a blast ~ Savvy
"After owning a guitar that was successfully collecting dust for about 6 years I finally decided to take the plunge and began lessons with Rik. I shared with Rik the type of music I enjoy, the lack of my guitar playing knowledge, and my goals. I felt encouraged after just one lesson. I am totally impressed with Rik’s commitment to me and his lesson prep. Lessons are relaxed and filled with positive energy. Rik’s patience, kindness, professionalism, commitment, attitude, and good spirit make him a great choice for all aspiring and experienced guitarists ~ Steve
"Rik is a uniquely calm and patient teacher. He makes you feel good about your progress, no matter what your level of expertise, and his enthusiasm is contagious. I have been playing guitar for years, but I was self-taught. I knew the basics, but I had taken things as far as I could on my own and knew that was only the tip of the iceberg. Rik immediately took my knowledge and playing ability to a whole new level, by teaching me the theory behind what I had already learned, and teaching me new techniques. Rik has made me so much more confident and excited about playing guitar. I am learning something new every week and am seeing the guitar in a whole new light ~ Kevin R
"One of the challenges in learning the guitar (or any instrument) is knowing how to learn. You want to know it all but don't know where to start. Rik provides the structure, tailoring your learning to your interests and abilities.
Rik comes well-prepared for each lesson and patiently walks you through what will inevitably keep you challenged until the following week (or longer). Rik's a good listener, willing to adjust the pace of teaching as necessary. Overall, a great teacher ~ Tucker
"My great experience with Rik started before we even met. The interest he showed in my background and direction in our initial emails was fantastic. I came to Rik as a dabbling bass and guitar player. He was able to watch and listen and figure out what direction to take our lessons. Rik has a remarkable ability to take a question and turn it into a learning experience, for both guitar and bass. In the few months we have been working together I absolutely see a difference in both my guitar and bass playing ~ Ned
"I’ve been playing guitar for about 4 years. I've taken lessons in the past, but I didn't find the instructors to be very effective. I’ve tried lessons on YouTube from various 'experts' and found most lack cohesion and direction with no clear path. Rik on the other hand is an excellent musician and teacher. His approach is structured and methodical which I find very effective. In addition, Rik is patient and has a great ear for music. His personal attention and vast knowledge of the guitar and music theory have impressed me and helped my playing ability in just a couple of months ~ Larry
"I appreciate very much the organized and logical manner in Rik’s teaching, as I need structure when approaching a discipline like music. I’ve never had an understanding of music theory, but now I feel I am slowly gaining a foundation that I can build upon ~ Rick L
"The three years that I had been learning guitar with Rik had been a great experience. I was able to learn at my own pace, and if I was ever unprepared Rik was ready to tweak the lesson so we still ended up being really productive. Rik has given me all the necessary tools (scales, ways to connect scales). I feel like I am actually on my way to becoming a real player, rather than some guy with a few licks and tricks up his sleeve ~ Mike
"Rik has an expansive knowledge of music theory, which is what I took my first lessons for. My knowledge of Major and Minor scales, how they can interact with each other, particularly the related array of chords, has expanded because of Rik's amiable and well-structured lessons. The lessons have been so useful that I have started to apply this musical knowledge
in my songwriting ~ Fred
"After trying to learn guitar on my own
for a few years, lessons with Rik have been great. Only a few months in, and it's clear that Rik quickly identified what I need to work on, and is helping me to lay the foundation to truly understand the guitar. Rik is patient and is experienced enough in both playing and teaching to tailor the lessons to my specific needs, and also finds great ways to connect me more closely with the music that inspires me to play
~ Jason
"Rik is a fabulous guitar teacher! As a beginner I’ve tried some other teachers over the years and none were even close to Rik’s level of patience, positivity and organization. With Rik you will have a plan tailored to your goal AND you will learn a ton ABOUT music itself along the journey! Feel free to ask questions about the songs, the scales, the guitar itself, the musicians, music theory….Rik has a wealth of knowledge and approaches the lessons with a genuine joy of teaching and helping students reach their musical goals. I’ve made more improvement in my few months with Rik than all previous lessons combined plus I've learned to hear things in the music I've been listening to for decades that I've never noticed before. I can actually see tangible improvement in my playing ability each week. Highly recommend! ~ Mike C
"I've been dabbling with guitar for decades; having tried several instructors and a few online courses. With Rik, I now feel like I'm finally actually learning guitar. Rik has created his own curriculum in which each weeks' lessons build upon the previous weeks' skills and techniques. Rik also brings music theory into his teachings, which he brings alive with the intriguing history behind the theory. Rik is a natural teacher. I find Rik's approach perfectly intuitive and I have progressed more in a few months than all my previous years ~ Andrew
"Rik has provided the technical knowledge, game plan and environment that has made acoustic guitar truly accessible to me. With no music background, I struggled through months of on-line attempts to learn some basic chords but, as an older player, I lacked the feel, timing and strategy to make significant progress. After a few months with Rik, my song book is filling up and I had my first live performance! Rik’s experience and patience are evident through his structured approach to building skills while also incorporating fun and interesting discussions about song origins and
music theory ~ Mike Ca
"Rik is an excellent guitar teacher. He meets you where you are and continually helps you grow as a player, a musician, a performer, and a person. He's very good at nudging you out of your comfort zone and guiding you to the next step, whatever that next step may be. Rik understands the power of music and makes it accessible to players of all levels. I would recommend Rik to anyone who wants to start playing guitar or who wants to continue their journey. He's a supportive, steadfast, knowledgeable guide ~ Ruth
"I can't recommend Rik Shedden highly enough. He is one of the best teachers I have encountered in any field. He is thorough and patient. He explains things clearly. I now look forward to practicing every day. Working with Rik has been a complete game-changer for me. For musical instruction of any kind, Rik should be
your first call ~ Andrew
"I have enjoyed lessons with Rik. I felt comfortable asking questions that did not relate to the scheduled lesson topic. It was nice to sidetrack at times. Rik's lessons were always well prepared ~ Bob
"Rik’s guitar lessons are always focused, tailored towards a student’s aspirations, and are made easily accessible. Rik is always open for questions and follows through with an easy to grasp approach that helped me move forward with my guitar playing ~ Ruslan
"I have been fiddling with guitars for years but never took formal guitar lessons. Almost all of what I played was based on mimicking other players without ever learning any theory. With Rik as a teacher I am getting a true insight into music. He is a keen observer and a fantastic teacher. During lessons, he often makes
pointed suggestions to improve on skill
and style. The lesson notes are clear
and he has a great knack of explaining
concepts to students who have almost no musical background (me!).
I highly recommend Rik ~ Sanket
"I came to Rik as a guitar novice, but with 40+ years of classical piano background. I have always loved blues/rock guitar but never really understood how guitarists do what they do. In just a short time, Rik has ushered me into the world of guitar, helped me better understand music theory, and even managed to teach this old dog some new tricks. He makes complex ideas accessible, is kind and encouraging, and his teaching methods complement your strengths while shoring up your weaknesses. I am very excited to continue on this mid-life musical journey with Rik
~ Ramón
"After several months of halting progress - struggling with books, online courses, and YouTube tutorials – I finally decided to seek out a guitar teacher. I was very lucky to find Rik. Rik has a wonderful knack for assessing your current level, understanding what you know and what you need to learn, and therefore meeting you where you are. He tailors the lesson material to each student. In the short time I have been studying with him, I have learned several songs, music theory, techniques for soloing over blues, and many other skills. One thing I love about his teaching style is that once he understands what you want to learn (in my case, the blues), he finds songs that will impart particular skills. So you are learning to play real songs, which keeps it very fun, but each song pushes your boundaries a little and teaches you something new. I’m still a beginner, to be sure, but Rik has given me confidence that with persistent effort (and a guiding hand), my guitar journey is only just beginning. ~ Jamie
"When I was 12 years old, a family friend took me to buy my first guitar. I still remember that day, and how excited I was to play music. Over the next few years, I worked at copying riffs from a few of my favorite bands. As priorities changed, I walked away from guitar altogether. Fast forward 30 years--I still had the desire to play and wanted to make up for lost time. Rik's instruction has been both rewarding and inspiring. Other students have rightfully praised Rik's approachable teaching style and patient demeanor. What I will add, however, and what I consider priceless, is that he isn't just teaching me the instrument, he's teaching me to become a musician and to find my voice as a player.
~ Chris
"What separates effective teachers from great musicians – Rik is both -- is the ability to teach you how to learn and practice effectively. Patience and motivational skills are important too; Rik keeps it fun and celebrates each mini victory!
Shortly after starting my lessons, I had a chance to sit in on some live performances with a band. Rik helped me prepare to play with a group and overcome my nerves! As a bonus, he shares his knowledge of equipment, getting that all important sound, and tackling all of the little things that arise when playing live. He’s helping me with effective ways to memorize songs and taught me how to prepare my own lead sheets. He has become an integral part of my guitar journey, my personal 'Stairway
to heaven' ~ Bruce
"My lessons with Rik have far exceeded my expectations. I tried teaching myself to play the guitar on the internet and realized there was just no structure or direction. Lessons with Rik have been the complete opposite experience. Rik structures each lesson seamlessly with the next. We have worked on several techniques, new material, and the theory behind it all, which I really appreciate ~ Larry
"I have made a ton of progress working with Rik! He plans each lesson to meet my individual needs and skill level, while taking into account my musical interests as well. He is very careful in choosing and arranging material so that each lesson builds on the last. Rik is easygoing, professional, gives great feedback. I look forward to my lessons each week! ~ Kelley
"I know how to play basic chords but I decided I wanted to play at the next level – and to be able to entertain others because I feel that making music is an art that needs to be appreciated. Rik listens. That's why I enjoy learning with him. When I describe what I want to do, he listens intently and sketches out a path that I can take to reach my goal. I also have family, friends, work, and other commitments. So efficient, focused learning is a necessity. In order to get that, I need a teacher that is practical (I'm not training to be a rock star), realistic (I have limited time to practice), and knowledgeable (I have an idea of what I want, but I need a teacher to show me the way). Rik is that guy ~ Hari
"I played guitar many many years ago, but for the last twenty years I only dabbled every once in a while. I could play songs. I could solo - sort of. But I didn’t really know what I was doing. As for instructors I searched for quite some time to find the right fit. I was looking for inspiration, discipline, technical instruction, and good cheer. Rik has delivered - and more! Thanks Rik for rekindling my interest in guitar and expanding my interest in music in general. I am enjoying playing guitar more than I ever imagined ~ Kevin M
"Years ago Rik & I started out on a musical journey together ~ for me it was learning an instrument I had been drawn to for a long time; for Rik it was discovering he had an innate ability to teach. That was about thirty years ago. At the time Rik constantly encouraged me to push my musical boundaries, and this has made my lifelong journey with the guitar all the more interesting. Rik is more than a skilled teacher, he’s a mentor – he’ll guide you every step of the way to ensure that you become the player you have always dreamed you could be ~ Graham
"As an adult learner who was new to the guitar but shares Rik’s passion for music, I really wanted to understand the “how’s and why’s” of the guitar. Rik has taken the time to individualize my lessons to incorporate the theory behind the music, rather than pure memorization of chords and notes. Rik is an incredibly patient, thoughtful, and insightful instructor. Each lesson is completely tailored to my individual progress. I love that Rik is genuinely excited when we make a “break though” together, and all the pieces come together on the fretboard. My lesson with Rik is the highlight of my week for sure! ~ Josh
"Rik is a patient teacher. He provides encouragement and is well organized. He helps the student feel at ease and helps you to build confidence. In my lessons, he focused on learning popular songs in which he integrated new chords or strumming techniques, which I found helpful. He also encourages and promotes public performances by his students. If you are considering lessons, I suggest you
give Rik a try! ~ Rick D
"I reached out to Rik after sort of hitting a wall with my playing. As a self/youtube taught player, I have a lot of gaps in my knowledge and technique. Rik and I met and he got a sense of where I was at and what needs to be done to fill in the gaps and correct the stuff that needs correcting. He does a really good job of keeping it interesting and picking material to work on that I am interested in. He is prepared for each lesson and keeps me accountable for the things I am working on. On the theory side, his explanation of how chords work within the scales they belong to really cleared up some things that I hadn't quite been able to grasp on my own ~ Mike G
"Working with Rik has been a terrific introduction to playing the guitar. Learning by playing songs makes it fun and mixing in some theory means you build a foundational understanding of what you're actually doing. My weekly sessions with Rik are a highlight I look forward to and can't recommend him highly enough! ~ Alex
"Rik’s approach to teaching is thoughtful and highly organized. Working with him over these past few months has been refreshing and has renewed my interest in playing guitar. Every lesson is a highlight of my week, and I have noticed a significant improvement in my playing ability and general music understanding. Additionally, the Guitar Labs are a terrific way to test new skills and meet new people with a similar passion for playing guitar ~ Jeremiah
"Rik is a guitar teacher I highly recommend! From the very first lesson
it was clear that his approach is rooted in extraordinary organization and a deep understanding of how to guide students through every phase of their learning journey. His lesson structure is meticulously planned, with each level building on the previous one, ensuring that I’m always progressing at a pace that suits my needs.
Rik's love for the guitar is infectious. It’s obvious he’s not just teaching—it’s clear he lives and breathes guitar, and that passion comes through in everything he does. He constantly goes above and beyond.
What I especially appreciate is how Rik uses songs as a tool to build a solid foundation for every skill you need. By incorporating music I know and enjoy into the lessons, he not only makes practice more fun but also helps me understand the theory and techniques that will take
me to the next level.
Another thing I love is how incredibly
well-organized Rik is. Each lesson is carefully structured, with a clear plan and progression to ensure steady growth.
He has a system in place for every skill level, making it easy to see where you are and where you're headed. His organization allows me to stay on track, build a
solid foundation, and continually challenge myself as I advance. It's this level
of structure that really sets him apart
~ Aizen
"Picking up a new instrument can be intimidating, but Rik creates a supportive, relaxed environment where growth is always within reach and mistakes are just part of the learning process. As a fellow teacher with a background in music education, I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness he brings to each session. His lessons are engaging and well-paced, introducing new strum patterns, chords, and songs in a way that builds on what you've previously learned without feeling overwhelming. In just five months, I’ve gained not only technical skills but also the coordination to sing and strum at the same time—something I never thought I could do. Beyond just playing mechanics, Rik has encouraged me to prioritize improvement over perfection—an invaluable lesson in and of itself. If you've ever wanted to take guitar more seriously, I highly recommend learning with Rik—his instruction will steadily challenge you as a musician and give you a real sense of pride in your progress ~ Jude
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